Surveying or leveling instrument.



W'. .NUGEN SURVEYING OR LEVELING INSTBUMENT.

APPLIATION PIIEED .TULY`28, 1908.

Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

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i W. -NUGENTl URVEYINGrI OR LEVELING INSTEUMENT.

APPLIOATION I'ILED JULY 28. 1908.

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WILLIA-M NUGENT, OF DENVER, GOLORADQ.

SURVEYING OR LEVELING INSTB'UMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 27, 1909 Application filed. July 28, 1908. SeriaI No.` 445,800.

To all whom it may camera:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMNUGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Surveving'or Leveling Instruments, of Which the ufollowing is a specifica- This invention relates to a hydrostatic surveying or leveling instrument, designed for use in grading, leveling, ascertaining corresponding points in 'a horizontal plane in surveying and in all buildingoperations, including excavations, mining, submarine work, etc. and for all'purposes where it is desired to ascertain the difference in altitude of definite points, or by means of which the difference in the grade of any two Vpoints at greater or less distances apart may be readily and conveniently determined. j

Theobject of the invention is to providef an apparatus embodying two instruments adapted to be arranged at differentdistances' apart and provided with water or spirit gages adjustably mounted thereon for location at different levels and connected by a fleXible conductor, the gages and conductorsbeing partially filled with a suitable liquid, such as water, whereby when the instruments are properly set the difference in the reading of the scales through the variation of the levels of the liquid therein will indicate the difference in the grades or levels, and further to provide for the adjustment of the instruments to setithe gages at 'different altitudes as circumstances may require. v

Another object of theinvention is to provide an apparatus of this characterwhereby, through the use of the fleXible conductor, the instrumentsmay be arranged at different positions such as cannot be ordinarily reached, as over or around a wall or like construction in a building, or through passageways of mines or excavations, and which is provided With means whereby the apparatus may be readily primed for use with the desired liquid and the operating parts adjusted with greater facility' and to `an increased extent to afford greater convenience in the use of the instrument as well as for increasing its capacity for measuring diflerences in, altitudes. I With these and other objects, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of arts hereinafter fully described and claime reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

Figure is a front elevation of the device asset up foruse.k Fig.l 2 is a side elevation Von an enlarged scale of one of the instruments,

V.Which may, for convenience of description,

be called the Irelatively movable instrument. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar sectionon the-line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the coupling. Fig. is a detail section through one of the legsof the tripod of the movable instrument.

The device comprises a pair of generally similar measuring instruments A and B, both of which are readily transportable, but which, for convenience in differentiating the same, may be termed relatively movable and stationary instruments. The instrument A comprises a staff or upright consisting of an innerfrod or tube 1 and an outer tube 2, inclosing and telescopically adjustable on said inner tube. The tube 1 is provided on its outer surface with an altitude scale, being graduatedvertically as indicated, and has a pointed lower end 3 to rest upon one of the'fixed points or objects A' whose level is to be determined. The tube 2 is closed at its upperend by a cap 4 and is provided at its lower end With a collar 5 carrying a set screw 6 for fiXing it in adjusted position on the rod or tube 1. The lower edge of this collar serves as an indicator for use in conjunction with the graduations of the scale on the rod 1 to indicate the degree of adjustment of the tube 2, which is thus ad- 'justable to vary the height of the instrument.

' The 'staff or upright is sup iorted by a tripod .comprising a head bloc 7 of partially circular form and having a recess within which is secured a split guide tube or sleeve 8 which partially incloses the tube 2 and forms a guide therefor, and is provided with a set screw 9 to adjustably secure it to said` tube. On the head block 7 are spirit levels 10 and 11 arranged at right anglesto each other, by the use of which the operator may determine when the Vinstrument is set eX- actly in a perpendicular position. To the underside of the head block are secured sockets 12 receiving partially spherical heads 13 on the upper ends of the legs 14: of the tripods. VThese legs are adjustable as to length,

and each preferably coinprises a tubular nain section adapted to slidablj, receive an extension section 16, the'latter being provided at its lower end with a point 17 to enter the ground or supporting` surface. Through the extensibility of the legs the tripod ma vT be adjusted to aecord with the adjustment of the staff. The tube 15 is provided with a set screw 18 to secure the section 16 in adjusted 1position, and is preferahlv detachahly co a'led to the coacting head 13 by providing it with a reduced threaded stem 19 at its upper end Connected with a corresponding` stem 20 projecting from the head by a coupling tube 21, thus enabling the parts to be readil;T assembled and disassembled. The tube 2 carries at one side a longitudinal graduated scale plate or strip 22 fixed at its upper end to a lug' 23 and. at its lower end to the collar 5. Adjustably supported by this plate or strip is a frame 24 carryingI a glass tube 25, open at each end, the upper end of the tube being provided with a valve or cock 26 having a priming cup or inlet 27, and the lower end of the tube having' a controlling` valve or cock 28. The frame 24; earries at its upper and lower ends hooled slides or braclrets 29 which engago the opposite side edges of the strip 22, thus slidably inounting the tube thereon for ve ical adjustment, and said slides carryT set serews 30 for securingv the tube in adjusted position.

The instrument B coniprises a rod or tube 31 graduated like the rod 1 and provided at its lov. end with a point 32 to rest upon the other rixed point or object A2 whose level is to bo determined. Shdably mounted on this rod is a tube 3-3 corresponding in construction with the tube 2 of the instrument A, being provided with a closure cap 34 at its upper end, a collar 35 at its lower end carrying` a set screw 36 to engage the rod 31, and

i the section havingI arrangednpon the front thereof a graduated scale plate or strip 37 correspondi ing in character with the strip 22. 38 carries a graduated glass tube 39 corresponding to the tube 25, and is provided with'hooked brackets 10 slidably engaging said strip 37 and provided with set screws 41 te fasten it in adjusted position thereon. The upper end of the tube is provided with a valve or cocli 42 having a primin' cup 43, while the lower end thereof is provided with a valve 44;, these parts being` the same in construction andV arrangement as the corresponding` parts of the tube of the instrument A. T ie staff or standard in this instrument Bfcomposed of the rod 31 and inclosing tube 33. is supported b f a trinod eomnrisin0` a 1 l 1 i i i o neao 15 shdably mounted on the rod 41 and provided with a set screw 46 to li): it to said rod. From this head projects hollow arms 47 inclosing extension rods 48 having pointed outer ends and adapted to be adjustably secured to the arms by set screws 49 mounted A frame f.

i i l l l l r l l l l tions, as shown in Fig.

on said arms, the arms and rods constitutin;r the extensible legs of the tripod, by which the latter is rendcred vcrtically adjusta blo to vary its height as occasion n'lav require.

The glass tubes of the two instrumcnls and B are adapted to be conncctcd b), a llcxi ble hose or conduetor 50, \rhieh may bu formed of two or more sections sccurcd ut their outer ends in any prcfcrrcd niaimcr to the valves 28 and 44. These hose sections are preferably protected by providing them with an oncircling rcinforcin u` coil 51 of \viri` or the lile, which will enable them to bo handled and draggcd without liabilitf of injury. The proximatc cnds oii the hose sections adapted to be conpled in a manner which will admit of their ruidy discounection when occasion requires, and vet so :is to prevcnt lealiagc of tl e cmitaincd lluid at the joint. The coupling` dcvicc cmploycd comprises a double frusto-couieal tube 53%, the tapcred ends of which arc adapteri to (it within the proximatc ends of the hosc scr- \lountcd upon the end of one of the hose sections a couplim;` member consisting of a tapcrcd tube bar-- ing` at its outer end a strcngjthcning band or enlargcmcnt 55 and at its inner cnd an external flange or collar 56. liounted upon the end of the other hose section is a correspondinglv shapcd couplinfhr incmbcr 57 havinfr at its outcr end a strengthening band 58 and at its inner end an ('\Xtcrnally threadcd cnlargcmcnt 59. A slccvc or collar (30 is provided to connect the inner ends of hc (-,oupliirc members 54 and 57' and is provided at one end with a flangc (il to cngrago the flangc 55, and is intcrnally thrcadcd, as at 62, to receive and eng'arrc the thrcaded cnlargeinent 55), so that it \fill be swivclcd to 54 and have a thrcaded c-.ngogn`- ment with the section 57, \vhcreby said scrtions inay bc drawn together and will force the inclosed end of the hose sections lirml) the tube 53, which extends across the `joint between said sections, thus preventingr any possibiiit)7 of lcaltagc of the ('ontaincd liquid at the joint, while pcrmitting of the ready disconnection of the hose sections when oc easion requires. Through the use of two or more of these couplings three or more hosc sections may be cniplovcd to adapt the two instruments A and '.i to bc arranged at varying distances apart, or to adapt the hose to have suiiicient length to extcnd around a wall or other obstruction between the two instrun'ients when it cannot be extended over the samo.

In priining the apparatus for use, the valves of the tubcs of both instruments are opened and enough 'atcr is poured into the tubes through ono or both of the filling cups 27 and 43 to cntircl) lill the hose and partially lill each of the tubos,

so that when the instruments stand at the same level the reading, as indicated, by the height of the Water, Will be the same in both tubes. The instrument B is then adjusted and set at one point of the grade, say at the higher level, care being takento insure its eXact perpendicularity by the use of a plumb level or other analogous device, and then the valves of both instruments are closed and the instrument A -transported to the other point of the grade or lower level and set in an eXact perpendicul'ar position, which may be determined by the use of the levels 10 and 11. The stafis and tripods of both instruments are then. adjusted to lengthen or shorten the same as circumstances or conditions may require, and then the valves Vare opened to permit the Water or liquid contained; in the connecting conduit to assume its proper level within each gage tube, the difference in the reading of the tubes according to the height of the Water therein indicating the variation between the levels of the two grade points.

The apparatus may be employed for various other surveying and leveling operations, as will be manifest to those versed in'the art, and therefore, a statement of the mode of operation in performing the various kinds of calculations need not be specifically set forth. The advantages of the device, however, will in general be readily understood,

and it will be apparent that by forming the staffs of each instrument ofI telescopic sections, thus providing for their extension to different heights or levels, the degree of usefulness and convenience of the apparatus is increased to a material extent. In cold Weather, a suitable spirit or non-freezing liquid may be employed instead of water.

- Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is il. A surveying or leveling instrument comprising a pair of staffs, each staff embodying telescopic sections, atripod for su porting each staff, a scale upon each sta' gage tubes slidably mounted upon the scalesV of the staff, a flexible conductor connecting the lower ends of said tubes, -and suitable valves controlling the tubes.v

2. A surveying or leveling instrument comprising a pair of stafi`s, each staff .embodying a graduated rod and a sleeve partially inclosing the same, means for adjustably connecting the sleeve of each staff with its rod, a scale strip or plate upon each sleeve, an eXtensible tripod for supporting each staff, gage tubes slidably mounted upon the scale strips or plates of the stafs, a fleXible conductor connecting the lower ends of said tubes, and suitable valves controlling the tubes.

3. A surveying or leveling instrument comprising two staffs, each embodying a graduated rod having a pointed lower end and a sleeve telescopically engaging the rod and provided with means for adjustably securing it thereto, an adjustable tripod connected Vwith one of the sections of each staff for supporting the respective staffs, graduated plates upon the sleeves ofthe staffs, gage tubes slidably engaging said plates, a fleXible conductor connecting the tubes, and controlling valve upon the tubes.

In testimony Whereof I affix my signature-in presence of two witnesses.

VVILLIAM NUGENT. `Witnesses E. J. BEAN, CLAUDE M. TAUssIG. 

